







In English we use the present simple tense to talk about facts or things that are always true, as well as things in general. Present simple is also used to talk about a repeated action such as a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens.
In English we use 'do' and 'does' as auxiliary verbs in negatives and questions and we often use the present simple with adverbs of frequency such as sometimes, always, often, never, usually, rarely, and hardly ever.
Notes for use of present simple :
In the third person, ‘s’ is added to the verb form. For example;
work --> works
run --> runs
live --> lives
For verbs that end in 'o', 'sh', 'ch', 's' and 'x', we add 'es' to the verb form. For example;
go --> goes
wish --> wishes
watch --> watches
kiss --> kisses
fax --> faxes
For verbs that end in a consonant + 'y', we change the 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'. For example;
try --> tries
study --> studies
The table below shows the different forms of present simple :
Example Verb : Work | I / You / We / They | He / She / It |
| Positive | ... work. | ... works. |
| Negative | ... don't work. | ... doesn't work. |
Questions | Do ... work? | Does ... work? |
| Short answers | Yes, ... do. / No, ... don't. | Yes, ... does. / No, ... doesn't. |
For the verb 'to be' we use 'am', 'is', 'are' in the present simple. No auxiliary verbs are used in negative sentences and questions.
Verb: Be | I | You / We / They | He / She / It |
| Positive | I'm ... | ... 're ... | ... 's ... |
| Negative | I'm not ... | ... aren't ... | ... isn't ... |
| Questions | Am I ... ? | Are ... ...? | Is ... ...? |
| Short answers | Yes, I am. / No, I'm not. | Yes, ... are. / No, ... aren't. | Yes, ... is. / No, ... isn't. |
Present Simple Example Sentences :
Positive Examples of Present Simple :
Negative Examples of Present Simple :
Question Examples of Present Simple :
| Present simple example sentences | |
|---|---|
| I don't think you really want me to stay here anymore! | |
| Because I don't want to waste more time finding a new house... | |
| You don’t look like an English teacher to me. | |
| I think so, he can look around while Bear is not here. | |
| Is it a single or a double room? | |
| I don't like their chardonnay. | |
| Yeah, I think the logo looks much better in the centre, what do you think? | |
| No, it's not mine, I think it belongs to the house. | |
| What's the reason for the cancellation this time? | |
| How many people live in this house? | |
| My dad is British and my mum is Australian. | |
| I'm really sorry, what kind of sickness is it? | |
| It's in Islington, zone-1, it's the best place for me so far. | |
| You are absolutely right! | |
| Okay, if you say so, I trust you! | |
| That's nice... I hope she is not a teenager! How old is she? | |
| How is your mum, does she have any health problems? | |
| Do you live in this house, too? | |
| Okay, I want to have something similar then! | |
| How is there four of us? | |